Die locking arrangement for extrusion presses



Aug. 16, 1955 G. P. KRAUSE DIE LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTRUSION PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1955 INVENTOR.

GERHARD F. KRAUSE BY 2% W ATTORNE MLT G. P. KRAUSE Aug. 16, 1955 DIE LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTRUSION PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1953 INVENTOR.

GERHARD P KRAUSE yv j ATTORNEY Aug. 16, 1955 DIE LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTRUSION PRESSES Filed Jan. 2, 1953 G. P. KRAUSE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 '-F E F 4 n 5B 0/ 42 l i 35 35 L; Y Fl l 42 A? k 5| f 42 INVENTOR.

GERHARD P KRAUS'E ATTORNEY United States Patent DIE LOCKING ARRANGEh/IENT FGR EXTRUSION PRESSES Gerhard P. Krause, Harrison, N. Y., assignor to Loewy Construction Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporatiort of Delaware Application January 2, 1953, Serial No. 329,371

6 Claims. (Cl. 2073) A This invention relates to the design and arrangement of dies and die locking plates in extrusion presses. More particularly, the invention relates to the method wherein a single extrusion is subjected successively to the action of a plurality of dies of different formation. Thus, for example, it may be desired to extrude a tubular member having successively different outside diameters along its lengLh. To achieve this result it has heretofore been necessary to interrupt the continuous extrusion of such member for a substantial length of time while the dies were changed for a change in outside diameter. Such extended interruption was not only time consuming but frequently also necessitated an additional heating of the billet.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention to provide an arrangement of dies of different formation, together with die locking means, which will permit rapid change of die position so that the entire extrusion can be edected with a single heating of the billet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement whereby a plurality of different dies may be locked in position simultaneously and whereby the dies may be quickly and selectively rendered effective.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a plurality of dies as set forth above wherein each die in effective position has the full force of the extrusion press applied thereto.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a hydraulic type extrusion press having this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1 showing the dies and die locking plates in a second operating position.

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the dies and die locking plates in a third operating position.

Figs. 4A and 4B are graphic representations of the relative positions of the front and rear die locking plates, respectively, and the associated dies which they hold in the initial position shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5A and 5B are graphic representations similar to Figs. 4A and 4B showing the parts in the second position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6A and 6B are graphic representations similar to Figs. 4A, 43, 5A, 58 showing the parts in the third position illustrated in Pig. 3.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, there is shown a portion of a hydraulic type extrusion press modified to embody the present invention. In such press, a plunger or stem it) operated under high pressure from a hydraulic source (not shown) is forced into a container 11 which holds a billet 12 heated to a temperature to permit it to be extruded under the pressure of the plunger. At the discharge end of the container there is positioned the die mechanism within a die holder 15, and the die mechanism and its holder are locked in position between the front platen or support member 16 and the container li by a die lock indicated generally at 13. The metal extruded through the die mechanism passes through the central opening 2%) of the die arrangement and front platen to a receiving platform (not shown). Where the extruded form is to be tubular, the plunger 16 accommo dates a mandrel 22 of smaller diameter than the innermost die opening so that the metal will be extruded between the mandrel and innermost die in the form of tube 25. r

A conventional extrusion of uniform outside configuration presents no special problem, but it is frequently desired to obtain an extrusion having dilferent outside shapes along predetermined portions of its length. To achieve the latter result it has heretofore been necessary not only to retract the locking plates from their positions between the die holder and the front platen, but also to remove the die completely and substitute another die, before shifting the locking plates into their operating positions again. This procedure was time consuming and resulted also in cooling of the billet in the container so that a new heating was required. By this invention, a multiplicity of different shaped dies may be employed, and the substitution of one die for a succeeding die accomplished quickly with minimum loss of time so that a new heating of the billet is not required.

The invention comprises two essential elements not heretofore employed. They are: (l) the positioning in the die carrier of a plurality of dies of different shapes concentrically arranged, and (2) the provison of a plurality of sets of locking plates having openings of diiferent sizes for coaction with the respective dies. The inven tion is illustrated herein in connection with the extrusion of tubular members of constant inside diameter but having various outside diameters along its length. It will be apparent, however, from the following description that the invention is capable of use for the production of other types of extrusion, solid or hollow, having any desired outside shapes along its length.

As shown, three concentric dies are employed, although it will be apparent that the invention is applicable generally to any number of dies. The innermost die 31) has a diameter larger than the diameter of the mandrel so that a tubular extrusion 25 of predetermined thickness is obtained as the plunger moves into the container. Surrounding the innermost die 30 is an intermediate die 31 so that if the innermost die is removed from its operative position the extruded tube will have an increased outer diameter. Finally, an outside die 32 is provided surrounding the intermediate die, so that if the innermost and intermediate dies are removed from their operative positions, the extruded tube will have a still larger outside diameter. Such an extrusion may represent, for example, a gun casing. Die supports 33, 34 and 35 assist in holding the dies in place.

In order that the innermost die may be rendered ineffective after a predetermined length of tube has been extruded, the following construction and operation of the die locking means are employed. Instead of a single set of locking plates being employed, there is utilized a plurality of sets of locking plates; in the case shown, two sets, hereinafter referred to as the front set and the rear set. Each set comprises four movable plates. The front set comprises a pair of vertically movable plates 44 having a central opening 50 of predetermined size, and a pair of horizontally movable plates 41 (see Fig. 4A which shows only the left hand plate) having a central opening 51 of predetermined size. The rear set of plates also comprises a set of vertically movable plates 42, having a central opening 52 and a pair of horizontally movable plates 43 (see Fig. 4B which shows only the right han plate) having a central opening 53.

effective plates 40 (see Fig. 4A).

set of plates comprises two plates 42 in effective position,

in which' position the opening 52 therein is'large enough to permit the innermost die 30 and its support 3310 pass therethrough, but small enough to prevent outward ejection of the intermediate die 31 and the outermost die 32.

- Theother two plates43 of the rear set are held in ineffective position outside the limits of the effective plates 42 (see Fig. 4B). Under these conditions a tube will be extruded having the outside diameter of the innermost die opening.

' In the second step of operation, when it is desired to change the shape of the outside of the extrusion (in this case, to enlarge the outside diameter), the effective plates 40 f thefront set are moved outwardly to ineffective positions as shown in Fig. A to permit the heretofore ineffective plates '41 to be moved inwardly to effective position. The latter pla teshave an opening 51 large enough to permit theinnermost die and its support 33 to be. ejected there-through by the pressure of the metal :...,behing the die. The effective plates 42 of the rear set hold the intermediateie 31 and its support 34 against ejection, and the extrusion will now have an ou tside shape determined by this intermediate die 31. e a

In the third step of operation, the effective plates 4 of the rear set are moved to ineflective positions and the heretofore ineffective plates 43 of the rear set are moved into effective position. The plates of both the front and rear setswhich are now efiective each have an opening 51 and 53-large enough to permit the intermediate die 31 and its support 34 to pass therethrough, so that the intermediate die will be ejected by the pressure of the metal being extruded from the container. The openings in the effective plates 41 and 43 of the front and rear sets are small enough to prevent ejection of the outside die 32,

its'support 'and carrier 15 from their positions.

The extrusion will now assume the outside shape determined by the outside die.

The plates of each set may be connected by connections 60 to pistons 61 operating in hydraulic cylinders 62 and operated by controls (not shown).

It will be, notedthat in every operating position, .re-

gardless of which die is effective, the full force of the .extrusion pressure may be applied to said die because it is held firmly between the platen 16 and the container 11.

3 Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: 1.1. In. an extrusion press for extruding multi-shaped articles, said press having a container'for the heated metal to be:extruded,.die mechanism coacting. with the discharge end of the container, a plunger for forcing the metalout the container and through the die mechanism, a support po member and the die mechanism for locking the die miE ber and locking means interposed between the supm hanisrn in operating position, the improvement which consists in said die mechanism comprising a plurality of dies of different outer contour, said locking means comprising a plurality of pairs of plates selectively movable to eifective and ineffective positions toward and away from the extrusion axis, said plurality of pairs of plates at all times filling the space between the support member and the die mechanism regardless of which pair of plates is in effective position whereby the full force of the press may be applied to the die which is in effective position and the pairs of plates may be rapidly moved to effective and ineffective positions, each pair when ineffective position confining an opening therethrough, the openings of the respective pairs of plates varying corresponding to the contours of the extruded metal and the respective dies.

2. In an extrusion press for extruding multi-shaped articles, said press having a container for the heated metal to be extruded, die mechanism coacting with the discharge end of the container, a plunger for forcing the metal out of the container and through the die mechanism, a front platen, and locking means interposed between the front platen and the die mechanism for locking the die mechanism in operating'position, the improvementwhich consists in said die mechanism comprising a plurality of dies of progressvely increasing outer contour, said locking means comprising a plurality of pairs of plates, and means for selectively moving the plates of each pair to effective and ineffective positions'toward and away from the extrusion axis, said plurality of pairs of plates at all times filling the space between the support member and the die mechanism regardless of which pair of plates is in effective position whereby the full force of the press may be afilied to the die which is in effective position and the pairs of plates may be rapidly moved to effective and ineffective positions, each pair when in effEitive position confining an opening therethrough, the openings of the respective pairs of plates varying in size corresponding to the contours of the extruded metal and the respective dies.

3. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the plurality of dies are concentric.

. 4. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the plurality of dies are concentric and of progressively increasing diameters.

5. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the locking means comprises a plurality of sets of plates, each set comprising a plurality of pairs of plates.

6. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the plurality of dies are concentric and of progressively increasing diameters, and the locking means comprises a plurality of sets of plates, each set comprising a plurality of pairs of plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,471 Moshier Sept. 20, 1904 1,395,217 Begot Oct.25, 1921 2,172,867 Dreyer Sept; 12, 1939 2,231,336 Heron Feb. 11, 1941 2,530,669 Thornton et a1 Nov. 21, 1950 2,559,679 See July 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,114 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1942 

